Method and circuit for storing and providing historical physiological data

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a sensor for facilitating detection of a physiological characteristic of a patient. Specifically, one embodiment includes a detector configured to obtain signals from the patient, the signals being indicative of the physiological characteristic, an interface configured to send the signals to a monitor, and a sensor memory coupled with the sensor and separate from the monitor, the sensor memory storing sensor expiration data.

1. A pulse oximeter system, comprising:
 a sensor and a monitor, the sensor comprising:
 a detector configured to obtain data indicative of a physiological characteristic from a patient; and 
 a sensor memory coupled with the sensor and separate from the monitor, the sensor memory storing sensor expiration data; and 
 
 the monitor comprising:
 a first component configured to read the data and derive patient physiological data from the data; and 
 a second component configured to read the sensor expiration data and configured to disable the sensor based on the sensor expiration data, wherein the second component is configured to pass a high current through the sensor to disable the sensor based on the sensor expiration data. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the second component is configured to provide a status of the sensor to a screen of the monitor for display. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the second component is configured to provide an indication that the sensor is expired as the status. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor expiration data comprises a warranty date.